Stillwater Campground, Grand Lake, Spring 2016

This is our second visit to Stillwater Campground. If you would like to read more information, and view more pictures, please click on this link. Stillwater Campground has electric and water hookups, which means we were able to hit the road without any water. The campground is very open due to the pine beetle devastation. If it is a warm sunny day, your site will be hot! It is also a very breezy campsite. During our visit many shade tents where destroyed. We were able to use ours for a day before taking it down due to the high winds. Our campsite had Ospreys soaring overhead, Bluebirds and White-crowned Sparrows flitting around, and White Pelicans off in the distance floating on the lake.

Mountain Blue Bird watching over our site. Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Set up, and ready for adventures! Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Perfect site and views. Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Another sunset at Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Wonder if it is going to storm? Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

White Pelicans. Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Osprey waiting for fish to be brought to her. Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Osprey flying over camp. Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Osprey keeping an eye on us. Stillwater C.G., Lake Granby, CO.

Stillwater Campground is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA). An ANRA vehicle pass is required while visiting the area (not included in your camping fee). There is a booth at the entrance of the campground for you to pay the ANRA fees with a credit card. Here is a link to info regarding additional ANRA fee areas.

Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA) fee station.

On our way to the campground we stopped for lunch at the top of Berthoud Pass, and enjoyed some snow and cooled off. Once in Winter Park we stopped for a delicious latte at Winter Perk. Since it was a weekday we where able to park on the side of the road.

The top of Berthoud Pass, CO.

The divide! Berthoud Pass, CO.

Plenty of parking space at the top of Berthoud Pass, CO.

Stop in at Winter Perk for a latte, coffee, or a snack. Winter Park, CO.

Parelel parking in Winter Park, CO.

We followed Co. Rd. 6 intending to hike at Monarch Lake. The trail head had well over 100 cars, so we went back and explored all of the campsites along the way, stopping near Arapaho Bay to try our hand at fly fishing the Colorado River as it exited Lake Granby. We found evidence of Moose and Bear along the river. 

So many cars! Monarch Lake, CO.

Rules for Monarch Lake, CO.

Decisions, Decisions… Arapaho Bay, CO.

Daisy is ready to go! CO River near Arapaho Bay, CO.

CO River near Arapaho Bay, CO.

Beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail puddling. Near Arapaho Bay, CO.

CO River near Arapaho Bay, CO.

CO River near Arapaho Bay, CO.

Bear paw print. Near Arapaho Bay, CO.

Rolled rocks from bears foraging. Near Arapaho Bay, CO.

Trying to fly fish with Daisy. Near Arapaho Bay, CO.

CO River flowing near Arapaho Bay, CO.

The CO River, from above. Near Arapaho Bay, CO.

Sunday we followed Co. Rd. 4, intending to hike into Lost Lake. Unfortunately the road was closed (opens June 15th), so we parked and walked for a few miles along the road. We came across Moose tracks/scat, saw a Deer and a Grouse. In the evening we headed into town and had a tasty latte at the Hub and visited the docks at Grand Lake.
If you are interested in boondock camping, there are a lot of sites up Co. Rd. 4. The road is a decent dirt road making it easy to find some good campsites hidden in the trees.

Lake Granby in the distance. Grand Lake, CO.

Info station on the way to Lost Lake. Grand Lake, CO.

Lots of campsites along the road. Grand Lake, CO.

On the way to Lost Lake. Grand Lake, CO.

D’OH! Closed road on the way to Lost Lake. Grand Lake, CO.

Moose prints while walking to Lost Lake. Grand Lake, CO.

Snow to cool down Daisy while walking to Lost Lake. Grand Lake, CO.

A scree hill indeed! On the way to Lost Lake. Grand Lake, CO.

Not sure if I’d drive on this hillside :O Grand Lake, CO.

Came across a small slide while walking to Lost Lake. Grand Lake, CO.

We drove into Rocky Mountain National Park and spotted a lot of Moose, Elk, and Deer.

Still some snow up in RMNP.

Watching Moose in the trees. A section of the Continental Divide Trail.

Sweet, little, deer in RMNP.

Moose in RMNP.

The wildflowers seemed to be about 2-3 weeks from full bloom and the pine trees were releasing clouds of pollen into the air.

All the lakes where full of pine pollen. CO

Tiny Flowers. Grand Lake, CO.

We visited some of the campgrounds around the lakes. We’ve listed a few quick notes about them:

• Arapaho Bay Campground (Big Rock) (Co. Rd. 6 to 673) was nice and shady, tucked into large trees. Next to a very dusty dirt road.
• Arapaho Bay Moraine (Mora)/Roaring Fork Campgrounds (Co. Rd. 6 to 673) are just past Arapaho Bay Campground. Not a lot of trees for privacy but you are really close to the water. The water seemed shallow and there were a lot of kids playing and keeping cool.
• Sunset Point Campground (Co. Rd. 6) Had some sites with shade, and sits along Lake Granby.
• Green Ridge Campground (Co. Rd. 66) looked great. There was some shade and sites along the tail waters.
• Willow Creek Campground Sits along Willow Creek Reservoir and is off the beaten path.
  
  

  Willow Creek Reservoir. Willow Creek C.G, CO.

  

  Willow Creek C.G. is across the lake. Willow Creek C.G, CO.

  

  Far shore of Willow Creek C.G, CO.